Page 79 of The Library

Because when it comes down to it, Lilith is already mine. And she’ll learn that soon enough if she hasn’t already, but my girl loves to push my buttons. She loves to see what she thinks is the darkest side of me.

I move back to the stove, my mind half on the conversation, half on the call I took earlier. The situation with Ty is growing more complicated, and the assignment will pull me away from her soon. I don’t like it, but there’s no choice. She doesn’t know how deep this all runs, and right now, it’s better that she doesn’t.

But she’s getting closer. She’s demanding answers, pushing boundaries. And I’ll give her some answers… when it benefits me. For now, I need her safe and close, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her here.

“Enjoy your breakfast,” I say, the smirk returning to my face as I watch her, knowing full well that the moment I leave, she’ll be thinking about everything I haven’t told her.

She’s smart, and she’s dangerous in her own way. But she’s also mine. And I’m not letting her go.

I watch her closely, knowing she’s piecing things together. Lilith isn’t the type to sit back and let things happen around her—she demands answers, craves control. But I can’t give her that. Not yet. Not fully.

“Are you leaving now?” she asks, her voice low, careful. She’s overheard enough to know something is going on, and the way her eyes narrow tells me she’s preparing to push back.

I set the pan down on the stove, turning off the burner. I face her, leaning against the counter, arms crossed. “I have to leave,” I say, watching her reaction. “And I don’t know how long it’ll be before I’m back.”

Her lips press into a thin line, her eyes narrowing with frustration. “How long?” she repeats, like she’s challenging me to give her an answer, something she can hold on to.

“I can’t say. You know that,” I reply, my voice steady. “But I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

She exhales sharply, crossing her arms over her chest as if she’s trying to shield herself from the reality of what I’m saying. “So, what am I supposed to do? Just sit here and wait for you?”

“You stay here,” I tell her firmly, stepping closer. “You can go to class if you need to, but remember—you don’t need to finish college.”

Her eyes flare with a mix of surprise and irritation. “Don’t need to finish college? I want to become an author, Sebastian. I need that degree.”

I sigh, running my fingers through my hair as I watch her dig in her heels. She doesn’t understand, not fully, the life she’s becoming a part of. “I know what you dream of, Lilith. You don’t need a degree to make that happen.”

Her expression hardens, and I can see the stubbornness flaring up in her eyes. “I don’t want to make my way just because I’m sleeping with one of the most powerful and dangerous men in town.”

Her words hit me harder than I expect. I step closer, frustration tightening in my chest. “It’s not about that, Lilith. You don’t have to fight for things I can give you.”

She shakes her head, refusing to back down. I feel my patience slipping, running my fingers through my hair again, but I cave. “Fine,” I mutter. “Go to school. But from here and back, that’s it. No detours. No games.”

Her eyes flash with a brief satisfaction, but I’m not done. “There are housekeepers here, guards. They’ll handle anything and everything you need while I’m gone. You’ll be safe.”

I pause, watching her reaction as she listens, her jaw set tight but her eyes softening. “And I’ve already hired my guys to move everything from your apartment into this house. This is your home now. Ours.”

She exhales sharply, clearly frustrated but trying to process what I’m saying. She doesn’t fight me on this—she knows it’s a battle she won’t win. “I just want to get some clothes from my apartment,” she says, her voice lower now, almost resigned.

I nod, though the hesitation grips me. “Fine. But you’ll be quick, and I want you back here. Anna can come over and stay while I’m gone.”

She looks up at me, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, as if she hadn’t expected me to offer that. “Ty’s going with me. So, Anna will be here with you.” That’s more than enough information for her to piece things together, but I know she won’t push for more right now. Not with me leaving.

I take a step closer, my hand reaching for her chin, lifting it so our eyes meet. “Lilith,” I say softly, my thumb brushing over her jawline. “I need to know you’re safe while I’m gone.”

Her breath hitches, her eyes searching mine. And then, without another word, I kiss her, deeply and intimately, letting her feel everything I can’t say. My hands tighten on her waist, pulling her closer, savoring the taste of her lips, the softness of her body against mine.

She melts into the kiss, her hands gripping my arms, and for a moment, I forget about everything else. The call, the assignment, the violence waiting for me out there. All I want is this moment with her.

But I know I have to leave.

Reluctantly, I pull back, resting my forehead against hers for a brief second before stepping away. “I’ll be back soon,” I murmur, my voice low. She doesn’t say anything, just nods, her lips parted and her eyes still heavy with desire and frustration.

I go change and grab my shit, then grab my keys, glancing back at her one last time before I head for the door. The weight of the assignment looms, but my mind is still on her, on the way she looked at me, the way she fought me and then gave in.

I’m already planning how I’ll claim her again when I return. Because she’s mine—no matter how hard she tries to push me away. And it doesn’t have anything to do with fucking her. At least not all of it.

Lilith

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